The conversation between Joel and Ellie at the end of The Last of Us Part II was originally planned to appear earlier in the game, with the script even including a hug from Ellie. Troy Baker, who plays Joel, revealed that Ashley Johnson, who plays Ellie, suggested removing the hug; the scene was ultimately saved for the game's finale. Spoilers for the ending follow.
In an interview with Party Chat, Baker said the team spent a whole day on this scene. Director Neil Druckmann originally wrote in a hug, but Johnson felt that Ellie wasn't ready to embrace Joel after Everythinggj that had happened. Baker also believed it was more effective to leave their relationship unresolved.
This conversation takes place before Abby kills Joel, but players don't see it until the end. Baker said it was originally scheduled to occur before the subsequent tragedy; he only learned later that the dialogue would be placed at the very end of the game.
In the conversation, the two try to repair their relationship, which was damaged by events in the previous game. Joel had prevented scientists from sacrificing Ellie to develop a vaccine, and Ellie learned she might have lost the chance to save humanity as a result. She tells Joel that she may never forgive him, but is willing to try; Joel agrees. Their reconciliation remains incomplete, and players already know that Joel is killed shortly afterward.